Authors:
Paolo Paioni (Zürich | CH)
Murezi Capaul (Zurich | CH)
Anja Brunner (Solothurn | CH)
Anna Traytel (Zurich | CH)
Karoline Aebi-Popp (Bern | CH)
Pierre-Alex Crisinel (Lausanne | CH)
Andrea Duppenthaler (Bern | CH)
Huldrych Günthard (Zurich | CH)
Begona Martinez de Tejada (Geneva | CH)
Lisa Kottanattu (Bellinzona | CH)
Stöckle Marcel (Basel | CH)
Andri Rauch (Bern | CH)
Noémie Wagner (Geneva | CH)
Irene Hoesli (Basel | CH)
Christoph Rudin (Basel | CH)
Alexandra Scherrer (Zurich | CH)
Katharina Kusejko (Zurich | CH)
Christian Kahlert (St. Gallen | CH)
Background
The Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study (MoCHiV) is an ongoing prospective, multicentric observational study in Switzerland investigating measures to prevent mother-to-child-transmission in pregnant women with HIV (WWH) and assessing health and development of their exposed children as well as of children with HIV (CWH) in general. As part of the Swiss HIV Cohort study (SHCS, www.shcs.ch) its focus is on interdisciplinary clinical and translational research, epidemiological and social science and public health questions.
Methods
Information concerning pregnancy, delivery and the offspring of pregnant WWH is collected. CWH are followed semiannually until 18 years of age while HIV exposed uninfected children (HEU) are followed annually until 5 years of age. The dataset comprises socio-economic data and detailed information on the health status and therapy of pregnant WWH and their children. Information on pregnancy follow-up and delivery is also available. In addition, characteristics of CWH cover information on HIV-associated diseases, treatment and laboratory results. Blood samples from mothers and children are regularly taken and stored in a biobank.
Results
Between January 1986 and December 2022 a total of 1446 children were born from the 1041 WWH. Median age of women at birth of their first child was 30 years (IQR 25-35) and median age at HIV diagnosis was 26 years (IQR 23-31). Overall, 98 children turned out to be diagnosed with HIV resulting in a vertical transmission rate of 0.7% during the past 37 years. Additionally to the 1446 children mentioned above, data of 708 (521 HIV exposed children and 187 CWH) children without detailed information about the mother have been collected. Of the total 285 CWH enrolled, 95 (33.3 %) were lost to follow-up or voluntarily withdrew from the study (e.g. changed to a physician not participating in the SHCS), 61 (21.4 %) died and 16 (5.6%) are currently still being followed. 113 (39.6 %) children have reached adulthood and are now followed within the SHCS protocol.
Conclusions
MoCHiV provides access to a unique longitudinal data-collection on pregnant WWH, their offspring as well as on CWH. With its ability to answer clinical and translational research and public health questions this cohort has contributed to improve prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and secure optimal care of pregnant WWH and their exposed children, as well as of CWH over the last 30 years.